Football | Africa

Algerian player Bouazza assaulted in Spain

Algeria international midfielder Hameur Bouazza was attacked at his home by masked individuals identified by the police as angry supporters of his club Racing Santander following their 1-0 loss to Sabadell in the Segunda Division’s 15th Match Day on Sunday, which was also the Los Racinguistas’ seventh loss in a row this season.

Reports say the assailants followed the 27-year-old former Fulham player to his house in Santander after the game and began by yelling racial slurs before pouncing on him.

Bouazza, however, said he did not sustain grave injuries and that he was feeling fine even though he was still in shock.

“It’s true we have been losing many games and the fans are worried that we might go down the more, but we still have enough time to patch things up,” he said.

“There were no serious exchange of blows and head buts during the attack and I thank God I didn’t sustain serious injuries.”

Bouazza angered the media and local supporters last month when he refused to shake team mate Gai Assulin, who is from Israel, in the wake of the Gaza crisis.